Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-13
A BANK-W ROCKERS FATE.
TEN YEARS TO REMEMBER THAT
HONESTY is GOOD "POLIcY.u
e. l. Harper Can Now Realize That the
Way of Transgressors Is Hard-A wife's
Devotion Contrasted with Her Husbands
Hunting q Colorado Ter
ror to His Lair-Criminal Notes.

TOT 10 Latf-CrImlnal NOTES.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, Dec. l3-"Ten years in
the penitentiary" That was the disagreea-
bic prize which Edward l. Harper drew
Monday. He has already commenced to
serve out his sentence, and is now immured
within the gloomy, cherries walls of the
Ohio pententiary at Columbus. 1t was a
large and motely crowd that saw the finale of
the great trial At $50 o'clock the closed
doors of the courtroom were beseiged by an
eager, pushing throag trying their best to
get inside. The multitude caused the baiiff
great deal of trouble, and when, at $50
O'Clock, the doors were opened, rush was
made, but the crowd was held back and only
one person admitted at a time. Before one
half of the people had gained entrance the
courtroom was packed, and the less for
tunate We're turned away disappointed.
At 10 O'Clock the jury were brought in and
q moment later Judge Sage took his seat on
the bench. His associate, Judge jackson,
was absent in CovinGton, and had left tbs
case in Judge Sage's care. The court asked:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon verdiotP
"We have, " said the foreman, Silas William
son.
"Let it be read, replied the judge but Dis
trict Attorney Burnett noticed that Harper
had not arrived, and he called the attention
of the court TO this fact. An order was
made to bring in the prisoner, but it
was not necessary Tho words had hardly
passed Judge Sage's lips when Harper, his
wife and sister-ih-law entered the court
room. The ex-financier seemed to know
hat h,,f id
ton of fear on his countenance. Mrs Har-
per was evidently suffering greatly, land
everybody who saw her sad, sweet face felt
pity and compassion for her. In less than
thirty minutes the verdict was rendered,
two motions for suspension OF Judgment and
new trial were overruled, and sentenced pro-
nounced
When it was noticed that Harper was in
the courtroom the verdict was handed to
Deputy Clerk Daley, and he read it The
word guilty" was distinctly heard all over
the courtroom. In the rear of the room a
faint attempt at applause was heard, but it
quickly subsidized. The prisoner looked dis
tressed, but was still undaunted. The mus
cles of Mrs Harper's face twiched nervous
ly, but she did not cry then. The jury
seemed quite sympathetic, notwithstanding
the verdict. II was expected that the dis
trict attorney would move an immediate
sentence and ask that it bs made cumula-
tive. Then the court reviewed the law on
the question of such sentences, and decided
that he would not do it Mai Blackburn's
brief plea on behalf of his client had no effect
on the Judgment.
When Harper stood up to receive his SEN
Il l..
little wife hung her head with her handker-
chief covering her face. The fatal words:
"ren years in the Ohio penitentiary," were
pronounced, and the prisoner sat down.
Mrs Harper threw her arms around his
neck and cried bitterly. She chung to him
with all the tenderness of loving woman.
He was for the moment unnamed, and was
compelled to use his handkerchief to wipe
tne tears from his eyes Miss Matthews, his
sister-in-law, also wept bitterly. 1t was an
affecting sight, and several of thu jurors ex-
hibited their sympathy by moistened eyes
Poor Mrs Harper, after the first outburst,
appeared to regain her self-control. Friends
came to offer sympathy both to the convict
and his wife
Juror Clarkson Butterworth walked over
to Mr.. Harper and said: MIR. Harper l SYM
pathze with YOU The unhappy man took
all these expressions of good will kindly, and
they seemed to give him courage to bear his
fate. At 1880 the last scene in the famous
trial was over and E. L. Harper was SEN
fenced convict The crowd filed out, and the
prisoner with his wife and her sister, retired
to the clerks office, where a short conference
was held with Maj. Blackburn and Judge
Wilson. The blow had been anticipated, but
the ray of hope that always fingers in the
human breast did not give way to darkness
until sentence had been pronounced. The
little group babe farewell to each other, and
the unfortunate Harper went back to jail
with his wife and sister-in-law
COLUMBUS Ohio, Dec. BE l. Harper,
the convicted ex-vice-president of the Fidel-
ity bank, arrived at the wardsn' Office in
the Ohio penitentiary here at 1920 Monday
night in charge of United States Marshal
Costello, and accompanied by his wife,
father-in-law and his wife's sister.